Yes. - Edit 1
Before modification by Aeryn at 16/06/2011 03:41:58 PM
Even though you are in the US, do you pronounce your name the Russian way: Anasta C ya?
That's like 5 syllables. Unwieldy. There's enough variation on "Anastasia" - people say it differently. Some say "Ah-nastasia" others "Eh-nastasia" (that's how I say it), others go for "Ah-nahstah-siah"
I also used to have a ridiculously long and unpronounceable last name (before I married TMJ - j/k 
), so I wasn't going to make it more difficult on Americans.
), so I wasn't going to make it more difficult on Americans. I've certainly had women long for and appreciate my very short last name... Those born to long last names anyway.
Did you have your last name legally changed? Although it was rather long, I really liked it. It was fun to say. Rolled off the tongue very nicely.
Yes, several years ago. I love my new name (not entire new, from my grandfather). It's 6 letters and 2 syllables. The old one was a pain to write, to say, and to spell. If I stopped in the middle of spelling it, I'd get lost and have to start over. And I wasn't sure myself how to pronounce it. So yeah, no regret, quite the opposite.
Although it's funny that I've now gone through 2 first names and 2 last names. The name that's on my junior high school diploma has no relation to my name now.